U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas issued a joint letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday over what the two view as a ?distressing interpretation of Federal Reserve Regulation B? concerning a bank in Perkins.

Federal Reserve action prompted the letter from Inhofe and Lucas after they were contacted by bank officials seeking help in dealing with the interpretation that possibly contradicts other U.S. laws and violates fundamental constitutional protections.

?This is an all-out assault on the faith, values and rights of the bank, its employees and the people of Perkins they serve,? Inhofe said. ?It is absolutely ridiculous for the regulation to be interpreted this way, and it unduly discriminates against a person?s faith in Christ and their constitutionally protected freedom to publicly express that faith. It is simply another case of liberals in Washington overstepping their bounds and intruding in the lives of individuals. I expect the Federal Reserve to rectify this situation quickly.?

Lucas also responded and said, ?The recent actions taken by the Federal Reserve at Payne County Bank are of great concern to me. I do not agree with its interpretation of Regulation B in this circumstance and believe that it infringes upon fundamental constitutional rights afforded to all Americans. I encourage the Federal Reserve to review the situation and take the appropriate action to address it.?

The examiners came to Perkins last week. And the team from Kansas City deemed a Bible verse of the day, crosses on the teller?s counter and buttons that say "Merry Christmas, God With Us." were inappropriate. The Bible verse of the day on the bank's Internet site also had to be taken down.The bank was told by the Federal Reserve examiner that providing a link to the Bible verse constituted a violation of Regulation B, pursuant to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

The bank was told that failure to comply would result in referral of the matter to the Department of Justice for further enforcement actions.